Ashling Murphy 4 Mile 2024 (19th May)

Tullamore Harriers AC hosted the third staging of the Ashling Murphy 4 Mile race on a sun drenched morning on Sunday 19th May. Over 700 athletes took to the roads around the town centre and adjoining Business Park for the event. The opening 600m was a steady rise bringing runners past O’Connor Park GAA Ground. The course levelled off and took a left into the Sragh Industrial Estate, reaching 1 mile. It was flat running through the Business Park, on to the 2 mile mark, and beyond with a little downhill bringing the runners to a roundabout on the 3 mile mark where they were welcomed by a traditional music group entertaining everyone in the bright sunshine. A stiff climb past the railway station tested the fitness levels before turning left towards the town centre and then a welcome downhill for the remaining 400m.

Mullingar Harriers was well represented by 13 runners. Kevin Moore continued his recent good form with an excellent twelfth place in 21 minutes 5 seconds, with Niamh McEntegart finishing 5th woman on 24 minutes 37 seconds and leading the women team that included Aisling Corcoran (25:59 and 4th in her master category), Jacintha Reilly (26:12) and Orlaith Flanagan (27:03) making up the quartet. This race is part of the Peugeot Series and our mixed team finished 5th with Niamh, Kevin, Aisling, Jacintha and Evan McCormack in a fine 23:52, despite being upended accidentally at the start of the race, and Darren Carroll in (24:43) completing the team.

Our men’s team of Kevin Moore, Evan McCormack, Darren Carroll and Jason McKevitt (25:28) finished 6th Club. Maura Dervin ran a very impressive 27:13 to win her master category, and also competing was Therese Glynn (27:19), John McNamara (28:22), John Long (29:10) and Michael O’Sullivan (31:06) [MO’S].